Authorities have arrested a man in his 20s on suspicion of murder following the death of Anita Rose, a mother of six.
Anita, 57, was discovered unconscious after walking her dog in Brantham, Suffolk. The arrested man, also from Brantham, is being questioned at Martlesham Police Investigation Centre and remains in custody.
He is the third individual detained in connection with the incident. Two people from Ipswich were arrested on Saturday. A 45-year-old man was initially held on suspicion of attempted murder and later re-arrested on suspicion of murder. A 37-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods. Both have been released on police bail with conditions to return on 25 October.
Anita was found injured and unconscious on a track road near Rectory Lane by a passerby at approximately 6:25am on 24 July. She had left her home around 5am to walk her dog, a springer spaniel named Bruce.
She sustained head and facial injuries and was transported to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, where she passed away on Sunday. A Home Office post-mortem examination was conducted the following day, but the cause of death remains undetermined and will require further tests, according to Suffolk Police.
Detective Superintendent Mike Brown acknowledged the public’s strong response, noting their positive engagement with officers in the village, on public transport, around the scene, and through the Major Investigation Public Portal. He expressed gratitude for the continued support in this case of murder.
Brown stated that while Anita’s iPhone has been recovered, her pink zip-up jacket, which she was believed to be wearing before the incident, is still missing. He urged anyone with information about the jacket’s whereabouts to come forward, as it could hold critical evidence. The jacket is described as waterproof and possibly from the outdoor brand Regatta. Brown also requested that people refrain from speculating about the incident to allow the investigation and any subsequent court proceedings to proceed without hindrance.